Rail-joint.



w U. R. HATFIELD.

. RAILJOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1910.

Patented May 24, 1910.

the following of the rail. Spikes,

UNITED STATES,

ULCY a. HATFIELD, or MACON, GEORGIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ULoY R. HATFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at. Macon, in the county of Bibb and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which is a specification.

This invention relates to a certain improvement-in rail-joints of rail-roads.-

- It is well-known that the nuts on the bolts ofrail-joints are loosened b the jar and Vibration causedby the rapid movement of the car-wheels passing over the rails. To overcome this difficulty various devices, such as nut-locks,'-'have-been provided.

' The present invention has for its object to provide an improved device for c'o-acting" with the bolt-nuts of rail-joints to prevent. the nuts from being loosened by the ar and vibration referred to.

' The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which,-

Figure 1 is a side view of'the-rail-joint.

Fig. 2 is atop view of the same. Fig. 3 is an endview of the joint device, showing a cross-section of the .rail.

The numeral, 1, designates the ordinary T-rail such as are commonly used on railroads, the abutted two ends of rails are designated, 2. A chair bar, 3, of suitable construction extends below and also at one side of the said abutted rail-ends, 2, and this chair rests upon the cross-ties, 4. A channel plate, 5, is at the opposite sideof the two rail ends, and fits in the concaved side of the said two rail-ends-the upper edge of the channel-plate being in contact with the under side of thehead of the rail and the lower edge of said plate in contact with the base, 6, 7, are used to confine the chair-plate to the cross-ties, 4:. Bolts, 8, pass through the side wall of the chair-plate, the web of the rail, and the channel plate, as usual, and a nut, 9, is on each bolt. Inpractice it is common for four bolts sometimes six bolts, to be used in these rail joints. V I i t The parts thus far described known and have been used.

are well The improved device which is the subject I I pecification of Letters Patent. Application filed-March 1,

' Suitable springs,

with ends abutted;

Patented May 24, 1910. 1910. Serial.No. 54e,e1 1.

of the present invention includes what I term a vibration bar, 10, which extends parallel with the channel holesthrough which the several bolts, 8, pass loosely. The bolt-nuts, 9, are at the outer side of the said vibration bar and bear or press in direct contact therewith; these nuts draw on the bolts,,c8, and keep them -tight. 11', are interposed between the vibratlonb'ar and the channel plate and exert a pressure on both, and said springs keep the vibration bar pressed outward against the nuts. It will be seen that the addition of the bar, 10, and the springs, 11, and their combination with the, plate, 5, the bolts, 8, and nut, 9,'on each bolt, but at the outer side of said bar, operates "to prevent the nuts from being loosened by the vibration of either track-rail, l, the chair, 3, or the channel plate, 5. In operation, there is no bending or torsional strain on the vibration bar, 10, the latter simply being interposed between the several nuts, 9, and springs, 11. The frictional contact of the nuts, ,9, with the steady and quiet bar 10, obviates in great degree the liability oi: the nuts-becoming loose. It is'obvious the particular form of chair, and channel plate is immaterial.

Having thusdescribed my invention what plate, 5, and has I claim and desire to secure by"Letters Patent is,--

The herein-described rail-joint device,.

comprising the combination of two rails plates on opposite sides of said abutted bolts, 8, through the rails and said plates; a vibration bar through which all of said bolts extend; aspring on each bolt and interposed between the said vibration bar and one of said side plates, and a nut on each bolt and at the outer side of said vibration bar.

In testimon whereof I aflix my signature in presence 0, two witnesses.

' Witnesses:

JOHN B. ,HAnnis, 'WAL'mR A. Harms.

ends; a plural number of ULOY R. HATFIELD. 

